Support for fabric hangings



June 2, 1931. c. NEHER 1,308,250

SUPPORT FOR FABRIC HANGINGS File-d Aug. 17. 1929 Patented June 2, 1931UNITED STATES CHARLES NEI-IER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS SUPPORT FOR FABRICHANGINGS Application filed August 17, 1529. Serial No. 386,510.

This invention relates to, improvements in a support for fabrichangings, and more p-ar-.

ticularly. to means for supporting curtains,

draperies, and other fabric hangings in a manner that greatlyfacilitates the removal and replacement of the hangings without undueeifort, the invention being greatly desirable for use in connection withthe hanging of'window curtains and draperies, although the device mayhave other and varied uses as will be apparent to one skilled in theart.

In the past, objectionable difficulty has been experienced, andespecially by housewives, in the dismantling or otherwise taking down ofcurtain rods and similar structures for the proper removal andreplacement of curtains, draperies and other fabric hangings. One of themost highly objectionable features in devices of this characterheretofore known, lies in the fact that a step-ladder was an essentialto the proper hanging and adjusting of draperies. Not only was the taska perilous and wearisome job, but again in many instances the structuresof the previously known rods were subject to infinite fault occurringfrom no apparent cause, resulting in many irksome and tedious delays tosay nothing of frequent damage to the drapery.

The present invention has been designed to overcome the above noted aswell as many other objections in the provision of means for supportingfabric hangings which permit the hangings to be removed and replacedwith great facility by a person occupying a normal standing positionupon the floor adjacent a'window or other place near which hangings areutilized.

The invention seeks the provision of means for supporting fabrichangings, which not only permit the hangings to be removed and replaced,but also permit the hangings to be adjusted from a position of entirecomfort andno danger to the user; V I A further object of the presentinvention -is the provision of means for supporting fabric hangings, themeans being exceedingly easy to operate, containing no part 7 likelytojbecome out of order, and presenting no surfaces likely to injure themost delicate fabrics.

A further object of the present invention 1s to provide means forsupporting fabric hangings which are extremely simple in construction,and which do not detract from, but in fact, enhance the appearance ofthe structure over which it is desired to provide hangings.

While some of the more salient features, characteristics and advantagesof a device embodying this invention have been above pointed out, otherswill become apparent from the following. disclosures.

The invention includes these and other features of construction andcombinations of parts hereinafter described and shown in a preferredform in the drawings, as more particularly indicated by the claims.

On the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a window including the sashframe thereof, the latter being equipped with a devicev embodyingprinciples of the present invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged top plan view of the device itself.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantiallyas indicated by the line III-III of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view takensubstantially as indicated by'the line IV-IV of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially asindicated by the line VV.of Figure 2. 35

As shown on the drawings:

In the structure selected for the illustration of an embodiment of thepresent invention, there is shown a sash frame 1 for a window, includinga head 2 which is equipped with a preferred embodiment of thisinvention.

The, embodiment of the invention includes a pair of spaced brackets 3and trespectively, each bracket having an angularly bent portion 5thereon suitably apertured for the accommodation of screws 6 or anyother desired securing means by which the brackets are mounted upon thehead 2. The bracket 3 1.00

bracket .3.

is provided with an upwardly bent portion 7 from which a pair of spacedlugs 8 and 9 depend, thereby forming substantially an inverted channel.The bracket 1-, in the outer portion thereof, is bent as at 10 intosubstantially a u-shape to form a rest for a purpose that will laterappear. Extending rearwardly from the bent portion 10 is finger 11 alsobent to form a rest.

For adequately supporting draperies before the window defined by thesash frame 1, a rod 12 is provided WhlCl1-iIl'13l11S instance is shownas being square in sect-ion, but which obviously may be made in anydesired shape. As shown more clearly in Figures 2 and 3, the rod '12includes a pair of end pieces 13 and 1 1 of similar construction. Each"end piece is provided with an inwardly extendingportion 15 of similarcross section to the main part of'the rod. The portion 15 is connectedin any desired manner with the body portion of the end piece by means ofa narrowed neck 16. A tubular body portion 17 which forms the main partof the rod'and upon which the draperies directly hang, is telescopicallyengaged with each of thesinwardly extending portions 15 on the endpieces 13 and 1d, this body portion being secured in position by meansof tongues 18 struck therefrom in spaced relationship so as tointimately contact thenarrowed neck '16. As seen more clearly in Figure4, the end piece 13 is provided with a-transverse ape-rture 19therethrough, this aperture beingiinwardly graduated from both endsthereof. The end piece 13 ispivotally mounted between the lugs 8 and 9depending from the relatively narrow shank 21 which passes through boththe aperture 19 in the end piece- 13 and also through the lug 8; Theinner portion of'the r1vet20 is enlarged to form a shank 22 ofgreaterdiameter thereby providmg a shoulder which abuts'the inner side of thelug 8 to firmlysecure the pivot-alconnec- 'tion. It will be noted thatdue t o-the size 7 of the aperture 19', which does not fit snugly cent'thedraperies, a curtain rod 23 is provided. this rod having one free endand one endseated by any desired manner-of securement in a socket member2a which has a reduced inner end 25 'properlyapertured to looselyengageover' a bearing pin 26. pref- 'erably formed integral with theshank 220i "the rivet-20. If so desirerhthe outer end-of the pin 26 maybet-hreadedso that the engage-ment may be secured by nut-.27. Thisengagement, hke that of the rod 12 is sufiiciently loose to permit thecurtain rod 23 '4 and the finger 11 respectively, it is simply necessaryto elevate the free ends of each of these rods, swing them outwardly soas to clear the-bracket 4 and then let them gradually swing downwardly,as more clearly indicated by ithe'dotted lines in Figure 1. To aid inthe pro-per manipulation of the curtain and drapery rods, a rodsetter 28provided Witha forked end 29, there being preferably one'elongated andone relatively short prong forming the fork, is usually at hand inia nyv desired location adjacent the hangings. WVith theuseof the rodsetter,both the curthin and drapery rods may be swung into. theirdownwardposition-by a person oocup'ying a natural standing position be'fore thewindow. When the rods are in their downward position, in most instancesthe draperies or curtains will slide off of the rod to fall upon the armof the user, but in the eventth'a-t the hangings fail immediately to'respondto gravity, it is simple-and expedient :to "urge them off of therespective rods by means oithesette-r 28. "Other-draperies may then 'beeasily inserted upon the rods and "the rods elevated to their normalposition 'by meansof'the rod setter, after which the hangingsmay-beadjusted also by meansyof the :rod setter. The pivotal connection ismade complete by means of a llVei'J-QOJIELVHI From the foregoing, itwill be apparent that/I have provided novel Emeans for sup-.

porting fabric hangings, which means permit the hangings to be'removedand replaced with a minimum ofetfort without requiring the user ofthe'device'to assume any uncomfortable or dangerous position whenmanipulating the device. It will also-be apparent that the invention issimple in construction,

durable, decorative, easy to install, and economical to manufacture.

I am aware that numerous details of con struction 'may be variedithrougha wide range without departing from "the principles of this invention,and/I therefore do not purpose limiting the patent-granted, otherwisethan necessitated by the :priorart.

I claim as'my invention:

1. As 'an'article ofm'anufacture, a 'device for supporting Windowhangings, said device including acur'tain =rod loosely pivoted adjacent'one end'thereo'fto permit both liorr.

zontal and vertical movement o'f the rod, a drapery rod adjacent saidcurtain rod and 'mountedin similar "manner, and means .for

freely supporting the free ends 'o f'said rods.

' 2, 'Asa'n article of manufacture, a device fo'r supporting hangings,said" device includiao ing brackets mountable in a desired location, anda rod for said hangings pivotally associated with one of said bracketsand movable both vertically and horizontally about the pivot point, theother bracket supporting the free end of said rod when the hangings arein proper position for use.

3. As an article of manufacture, a device for supporting windowhangings, said device including a pair of brackets mountable in spacedrelationship adjacent a window, and a plurality of rods for hangingseach attached adjacent an end thereof by a loose pivotal connection toone of said brackets,

said rods being in spaced relationship to each other, the other of saidbrackets being designed to freely support each of said rods adjacent theopposite end thereof.

4. As an article of manufacture, a device for supporting fabrichangings, said device including a bracket, a rod secured adjacent an endthereof to said bracket, said rod being free to move vertically,horizontally and obliquely, and means to freely support said rodadjacent the opposite end thereof.

5. In combination, a pair of spaced brackets, a rod for supportingfabric hangings loosely pivoted to one of said brackets and movable insubstantially alldirections about 39 the pivot point, the other bracketsupporting the free portion of said rod, and a resetting rod for movingsaid first said rod into p0sition for removing and replacing saidhangings and restoring said first said rod to its normal position.

6. In a device for supporting fabric hangings, a pair of spacedbrackets, a rod permanently and pivotally connected to one of saidbrackets, the pivotal connection being suffig ciently loose to permitthe rod to move in subsantially any direction, and the second bracketbeing formed to provide a rest for the free portion of said rod.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name at Chicago, CookCounty,

Illinois.

CHARLES NEHER.

